Your own tour inside slick new business jets | CNN

Your own tour inside slick new business jets

Maggie Hiufu Wong
By Maggie Hiufu Wong, CNN
2 minute read
Updated 6:52 AM EST, Tue February 23, 2016
He wasn't at the Singapore Airshow, but in February Jackie Chan did take delivery of an Embraer Legacy 500, which was on display. With a max range of 5,788 kilometers and top speed of Mach 0.83, the midsize Legacy 500 seats eight to 12 passengers.
Embraer Legacy 500 —
He wasn't at the Singapore Airshow, but in February Jackie Chan did take delivery of an Embraer Legacy 500, which was on display. With a max range of 5,788 kilometers and top speed of Mach 0.83, the midsize Legacy 500 seats eight to 12 passengers.
courtesy Embraer
Embraer calls the Legacy 500 the first midsize business jet with digital flight controls and fly-by-wire technology. It's controlled with side sticks.
Digital flight control —
Embraer calls the Legacy 500 the first midsize business jet with digital flight controls and fly-by-wire technology. It's controlled with side sticks.
Maggie Hiufu Wong/CNN
At the Singapore Airshow, lines were long to see Gulfstream's newest flagship jet. With a maximum range of 13,890 kilometers and a top speed of Mach 0.925, the G650ER seats up to 19 passengers and can sleep 10.
Gulfstream G650ER —
At the Singapore Airshow, lines were long to see Gulfstream's newest flagship jet. With a maximum range of 13,890 kilometers and a top speed of Mach 0.925, the G650ER seats up to 19 passengers and can sleep 10.
PrivateFly, courtesy of Gulfstream
"The pressurization system is very low on this airplane," says Steve Cass of Gulfstream. "That makes it easier to breath and reduces fatigue."
Cool comfort —
"The pressurization system is very low on this airplane," says Steve Cass of Gulfstream. "That makes it easier to breath and reduces fatigue."
Maggie Hiufu Wong/CNN
Large oval windows are one of the distinctive features of Gulfstream jets.
You know it's a Gulfstream —
Large oval windows are one of the distinctive features of Gulfstream jets.
Maggie Hiufu Wong/CNN
Safety features in the G650ER include enhanced vision systems that allow pilots to see better during low-visibility conditions, such as nighttime or foggy weather.
Flight deck —
Safety features in the G650ER include enhanced vision systems that allow pilots to see better during low-visibility conditions, such as nighttime or foggy weather.
Maggie Hiufu Wong/CNN
With a maximum range of 11,112 kilometers and top speed of Mach 0.88, Bombardier's Global 6000 is the Quebec-based manufacturer's rival to Gulfstream's G650. It can seat 13 passengers and sleep up to seven.
Bombardier Global 6000 —
With a maximum range of 11,112 kilometers and top speed of Mach 0.88, Bombardier's Global 6000 is the Quebec-based manufacturer's rival to Gulfstream's G650. It can seat 13 passengers and sleep up to seven.
Maggie Hiufu Wong/CNN
The Vision flight deck is one of the highlights on Global 6000. Its head-up display (the pink glass in the top left) projects important flight data for pilots. Its enhanced vision system replicates the terrain outside in conditions with little or no visibility.
State of the art cockpit —
The Vision flight deck is one of the highlights on Global 6000. Its head-up display (the pink glass in the top left) projects important flight data for pilots. Its enhanced vision system replicates the terrain outside in conditions with little or no visibility.
Maggie Hiufu Wong/CNN
The next generation of the series, the Global 7000 will increase its range to 13,705 kilometers with an extra section for passengers in the rear of the aircraft.
Getting better all the time —
The next generation of the series, the Global 7000 will increase its range to 13,705 kilometers with an extra section for passengers in the rear of the aircraft.
Maggie Hiufu Wong/CNN
The Global 6000 has a spacious bathroom that can provide a 40-minute-long hot shower.
In-flight shower —
The Global 6000 has a spacious bathroom that can provide a 40-minute-long hot shower.
Maggie Hiufu Wong/CNN
Inside some of the s(l)ickest biz jets in the world
Singapore CNN  — 

Aircraft orders may have been sluggish at the Singapore Airshow in February 2016. And the overall forecast for the private jet industry may call for a “fairly flat year to come,” as avbuyer.com put it in a January 2016 market trends analysis.

But if you were basing your assessment of the business jet market purely on the show in Singapore, you’d be forgiven for disregarding all the killjoy grumbling. The lines for private viewings of business jets were long – and at least one jet manufacturer told CNN that the line to buy one is even longer.

Singapore Airshow 2016: Five ways aviation will change

“If you come to Gulfstream today, the next position we can give you is in 2018,” said Steve Cass, communications vice president for the U.S. company, about demand for the company’s G650 and G650ER aircraft. “Today we’ve got more than 150 G650s in service and huge customer interest.”

The G650 is Gulfstream’s flagship private jet and the G650ER, the company’s latest edition, has extended its range and added zippy new features.

The Gulfstream G650’s cabin management system has touch controls and a smartphone interface.

Super-midsized and large jets

Despite the glum forecasts, the private jet industry has enjoyed significant growth over the last 10 years. Many within the industry remain bullish about future sales of new aircraft, assuming that demand, particular in Asia, will outstrip economic downturns.

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“Ten years ago, we had about 1,400 jets around the world and it’s 2,500 today,” said Cass. “Especially when we look at Asia-Pacific, it’s grown by leaps and bounds. Back in 2005, we had about 35 planes in Asia-Pacific and today we’ve got nearly 300 airplanes.”

Customizable lighting on a Bombardier Global 6000.

According to a late 2015 report from Honeywell Aerospace, the world will need 9,200 new business jet deliveries in the next decade. Of those deliveries, more than 80% will focus on mid-sized and large-cabin private jets.

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Some of the most popular mid-sized and large business aircraft were on display at this year’s Singapore Airshow.

The gallery above showcases three of the most popular models with crowds at the show.

A walk-through of Bombardier’s Global 6000.

This article was originally published in February 2016.